Heel attaching



J.- F. LEAHY mam. urncnme' Aug. 24, 1948.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed llafch "22, 194'! James FLeal'l y By his AH omey J. F. LEAHY HEEL ATTAGHING Aug. 24, 1948.

Filed March 22, 1947 y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 In van for James F Leaky B his Atrney .I. F. LEAHY mam. A'rncnme Aug. 24, 1948.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed latch 22, 1947 Inventor James F Leahy By his Attorney J. F. LEAHY HEEL ATTACHING Aug. 24, 1948.

-4 SheetsSh eet 4 Filed larch 22, 1947 Inventor Jame-s FLeah y By his Aztor'ney 4 Patented Aug. 24, 1948 HEEL ATTACHING James F. Leahy, Beverly, -Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 22, 1947, Serial No. 736,548

21 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of shoe construction, and more particularly to a method of attaching heels to shoes and also to the products thereof. The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 572,451, filed on January 12, 19415, which is now abandoned.

The inside tread surfaces of shoes, as usually constructed, are frequently rough and uncomfortable, particularly at the heel end where metallic fastenings are used to attach the heels and the i'astenings are clinched at the inside of the shoe and covered only with a thin lining. In some shoes, and, particularly in the case of women's shoes, large fastenings are exposed within .the interior heel seat areas and the large sizes of the fastenings aggravate the rough heel seat condition. In many cases, the exercise of care in lasting and fitting the heel to the heel 2 v. v Heels have been attached to shoes heretofore by means of plastic material in attempts to eliminate the need for metallic fastenings and all their disadvantages, but the diillculties encountered 1 have been so numerous that such attempts have been discarded. In prior attempts to use plastic a smooth. and continuous backing for the inseat, and the use of a heavy lining may serve to eliminate the roughness to a large extent when the shoes are new. Wear of the shoes, however, often causes roughness to appear as the shoe material is pressed down into any concealedvoids which maybe left between the heelcup and the heel seat. The interior heel seat surface of a shoe should obviously not be rough but should present a smooth unbroken surface which will constitute a firm, comfortable and permanent support for the foot of a wearer.

Not only do customary metallic fastenlngs affect the shoe interiors adversely but they have other disadvantages. They tend to corrode and will cause staining and deterioration of leather and contribute much to the general breakdown of shoe structure. The lack of shoe material substance i'orming the heel seat of a shoe may well cause the mail or screw heads to pull through giving a weak and uncertain fastening of the shoe parts. If wooden heels are used nails or screws of large size have a tendency to split them and the splitting may not be detected until the .shoes are actually in use. Another disadvantage of mechanical advantage possessed by the attaching meansin resisting any tendency to twist or break the heel from the shoe. With'a weakattachment an unsightly "wink or opening occurs between the sides of the heel and the upper as stress is placed upon the heel attachment means.

terior surface of the heel seat and a strong attachment of' the heel to the shoe was not assured.

It was also thought necessary to depart from tempt diligence was essential to prevent marringthe appearance of the, shoes by any undesired exudation of plastic material to their exterior suriaces.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a shoe having an interior heel seat of permanently smooth surfaced construction combined with a, nonmetallic form of heel attachment, both the article and the method for producing that article serving to avoid the numerous disadvantages referred to above.

In accordance with the article aspect of the present invention, a heel is, provided thefedges of which engage the bottom of the shoe forming a seal, and hardened plastic material engages anchoring means on the heel and shoe to attach firmly the two parts together, the plastic material forming a broad and firm foot support as well as means iorholding the shank piece in its proper position. Several modificationsof structure are possible. Either a full length or a short sole may be used. The inner sole itself, a special spacing member, or a resinous sheet may be utilized to form the spacerequired for the plastic material adjacent the shoe interior. Overlasted I of shoe. The heel, in all cases, is provided with .herently weak. It is weak because of the lack irregularities or plastic anchoring means on or at its attaching face and such an irregularity may take the form of an undercut recess. As for the method aspect, fluid plastic materialis extrudedfrom a nozzle or injected intotheyoid or voids formed between a shoe and its heel. the act of extrusion being terminated by the pressure 3 of the plastic material as such pressure is formed within the recess. The building up of this pressure is momentary only as the volume of plastic material extruded to form a part of the shoe is critically determined as to its extent by the volume of the recess or voids enclosed within the seal formed between the heel edges and the shoe bottom.

It is to be understood that the term "heel" as used herein is such as to include a heel portion such as a platform or the lift of a heel as ,well

as a complete heel. The term perforated sheet material" is used to define aportion of the shoe bottom such as the innersole or a tuck.

These and other features of the invention, in-

woman's shoe and parts of the apparatus shown in Fla. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the heel and shoe shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.2 but presenting a diiierent type of shoe and a modification of the heel attaching means;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the heel and shoe shown in Fig. 4: V

Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of the shoe parts used in another modification for attaching a heel;

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view through a shoe presenting one other modiilcation; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view, with sections broken away. of a man's shoe with a modified construc- In Fig. 1 a lasted shoe I0 is shown clamped in a suitable clamp fixture I 2 which is bolted to a table I4. The preformed heel of the shoe has been placed and clamped in its correct position relative to the shoe and an orifice i6 is provided through a portion'oi the fixture whereby access may be had to the bottom of the heel. A block or other suitable support I 8 is ailixed to the table I4 and on the block it are placed two parallel angle bars 20 only one of which is shown in the drawing. A cylinder 22 having end plates 24 and 26 tied together by long bolts 28 rests upon the upturned flanges of the angle bars 20 in such a way as to'be slidable thereon. The end plate 20 is provided with a reduced pipe extension 30 to which is-aflixed an electric heater 32 and a nozzle comprising a large portion 34 and a small portion 36' directed toward the orifice IS. A supplementary electricheater 38 is mounted for manual reciprocation, as desired, upon the large portion- 340! the nozzle and adapted to enclose the major length of the small portion 06; Pipe extension is provided with a piston chamber 40 and'a charging orifice 42. The electric heater l2 has-a -bailied passage '44 in alinement with cylinder 40. End plates 24 and 26 have packing glands 40 and '40 which permit a piston rod 50 to slide without leakage from the cylinder 22. The piston rod 50 is provided with a piston 02 which is adapted to be operated by fluid pressure. A hook 54 is attached to the end of the piston rod 50 whereby the" operator may withdraw the P S O rod 80 to a certain extent from the cylinder 22 to the position shown in Fig. l. A two-way valve 50 is mounted on the side of the table I4 and this valve has an operating handle 00, an exhaust connection 60, a fluid'pressure inlet 42 leading from some convenient source of supply, a hose connection 64 leading to one end of the cylinder 22 (as shown) and a hose connection 00 leading to the other end of the cylinder 22. Attached to the bottom of the cylinder 22 is a cord 10 passing over a sheave 12 held by a bracket I4 to the support I8. The cord 10 passes down through a hole 16 in the table and from the cord the weight 80 is freely suspended below the table.

In describing the operation 01 the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 reference should be made to Figs. 2 and 3 as well. In Fig. 3 the rear portion of a woman's shoe is shown with'a special heel spaced therefrom for purposes of illustration. It should be noted that the sole 82 with the exception oi the short tab 84, terminates in the vicinity of the heel breast in a conventional manner. A steel shank piece 88 extends into the heel seat portion of the shoe beyond the tab 84 and extends rearwardiy to beneath the margins of the upper and counter and parallel with the shoe insole. The heads of the heel seat lasting tacks 01 areconventionally driven in such a way as to be substantially flush with the surfaces of the overlasted margins 00 of the shoe upper and are clinched between the insole and the steel plate on the last. .A section 01' the counter 89 at its margin is clearly seen in Fig. 2. The heel 82 which may be of wood or some other material, is provided with an undercut recess 94 in its top and also with a drilled passage 95 leading from the recess 94 to the bottom of the heel. The steel shank piece 06 neednot be as long as shown in Fig. 3 but sumclent length should be employed to result in the desired rigidity for the main portion 0! the shoe. For the purposes of the present invention, a supplementary holding means or tuck I04 is shown having tabs I06. The tuck I04 is a single piece of stiff sheet material attached by means of the lasting tacks 81 between the overlasted margins of the shoe and the insole shown at I05 in Fig. 2. A recess is essential to receive plastic material as will subsequently appear and a portion of this recess is formed by an operation performed on the tuck preliminary to assembly of the shoe parts. A portion of the tuck I04 is cut out to leave inwardly pointing tabs I06 and a rearwardly extending central tongue. as shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the tabs I06 are so cut that the spaces I01 between them extend some distance beneath the overlasted margins of the shoe. The tuck I04 may be a cut out piece of sheet material, as shown in Fig. 3, or it may be a piece 01' wire mesh or any other means of such form to which plastic material may physically and securely be attached and which will freely permit flow of such material (when fluid) to fill all voids across the heel seat area and almost to the edges of the heel thereby resulting in abroad and firm support for the insole I00 (if one is used) or for the foot.

In applying the heel oi Fig. 3 to the shoe the two parts are placed and clamped in position in the fixture I2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The cylinder 22 of Fig. 1 is moved on the supporting flanges 20 toward the shoe I0 until the small nozzle section 26 extends within the passage 00 as shown in Fig. 2. The supplementary heater 34, having performed its function of maintaining in a fluid state any residual plastic in the small nozzle section 30 during the interval between extruding operations, is permitted to slide back upon portion 30 of the nozzle. Suitable thermoplastic material is then introduced into the cylinder 40 through the orifice l2 (assuming that piston rod 00 has been pulled back. using the hook 54, into the position shown in Fig. l) The thermoplastic material being maintained sufliciently fluid because of the heat from heaters32 and 30, handle 00 of the valve 56 is manipulated. to introduce fiuid pressure from the inlet 02 through the hose connection 06 and into cylinder 22 to drive piston 52 and piston rod 50 to the left. Plastic material is thereby forced through the nozzle 34 and into the passage 98 to fill the entire void formed between the insole I00 and the bottom of the undercut recess 00 in the heel.

The plastic material will therefore extend across substantially the full width of the heel seat area enclosed within the seal formed between the heel edges and the shoe bottom. Such extension is I I possible because the tabs I06 form spaces between the insole and the over-lasted shoe margins. Because of the clamping together of the heel and shoe. the top edges of the heel form a seal with the shoe bottom (the shoe upper in the present instance) and thereby serve to prevent plastic from exuding to the exterior of the shoe, assuming that the pressure of fluid plastic within the heel is not permitted to exceed a practical limit. When the voids become filled with plastic (and not until such time) the pressure momentarily rises within the recess with the result that. the nozzle 30 is pushed away from the recess, the cylinder 22 sliding on the flanges 20. The degree of pressure necessary to cause the withdrawal of the nozzle and therefore a termination of the extruding operation into the recess may be varied by changing the weight 80. Such pressure must not exceed that which may force the plastic ma-- terial beyond the seal formed between the heel and the overlasted portions of the upper; The thermoplastic material quickly hardens upon contact with the cold shoe parts and the shoe may be promptly removed from the clamping fixture I2 for the operator to repeat the operation on the next shoe.

In carrying out the above'method air was supplied to the cylinder 22 at a pressure of 80 pounds per square inch gage and. in forcing the molten plastic material into the shoe pressures were built up in that material which reached up to 2000 and 4500 pounds per square inch. As stated above. realization of such pressures is but momentary and consecutive shoes may be treated rapidly and 'Many plastic compositions are suitable for carrying out the method of the, present invention. An example of one composition which was used successfully follows:

- Grams Ethyl cellulose (-medium viscosity (ethoxy content 48.5 to 49.5% 233 Calcium stearate 3 Diphenyl amine 3 Di(o-xenyl) monophenyl phosphate (plasticizer) 67 Phenolic resin, thermoplastic'type 30 tained on a last I I 0. In Fig. 4 the same apparatus is shown as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. A heel III is clamped to the bottom of the shoe I00 and in this example. the bottom of the shoe is the sole II2 which extends the full length of the shoe..

The heel III is drilled at III for the close fittin reception of the nozzle 30. An undercut recess Ill in the form of a cross (Fig. 5) is cut in the top ofthe heel in communication with the passage I II. A rectangular opening I I5 is cut in the sole II2 before'the sole is assembled on the shoe and in the present construction the rear end of and shoe together, the edges of the heel III first contact the bottom of the shoe. This forms a seal and also a thin space within that seal between the plane of the sole H2 and the cup of the heel. In customary shoemaking procedure it is hoped to force the shoe bottom into the heel cup and eliminate the thin space referred to but such elimination is by no means assured when metallic heel attaching fastenings are used. In the use of the present invention, however, the generation of pressure within the void between the heel and shoe forces the plastic material outwardly to the seal formed between the heel edges and the shoe bottom. All voids or crevices are filled including those immediately above the heel cup and also immediately below the innersole. A smooth and lasting interior heel seat is assured and the heel as well as the shank piece are rigidly attached to give a reliable and lasting'shoe construction.

A further modification of the heel attaching method is shown in Fig. 6. In this case the heel is provided with a passage I20 extending from the cup of the heel to the bottom of the heel. Three arcuate cuts I22 are made at the top of the heel, as shown, which may be inclined slightly to the vertical. A conventional sole H4 is used which terminates at the breast of the heel. The upper I 28 with a conventional counter having a conventional lining I28 is also shown. The rear end of a steel shank piece or stiffener I30 isprovided, and a U-shaped fiber member I32 is used to space the lining I28 which rests upon the overlasted margins of the upper from a perforated member I34, which is located just beneath the innersole I30. form of' shoe construction the innersole H6 is first placed on the last (not shown), a perforated member I30 with suitable perforations I35 (which may be of various forms) is placed thereover and upon this the U-shaped member I32,'shank piece I30, lining I28, counter and upper I26 are placed. The lastingtacks will hold all these elements in their proper positions on the last. When such a shoe with a heel of the form shown in Fig. 6'is I35. The function of the U- shaped member I32 is to prevent the lining I28 from blocking the In using this nersole I06 is made of transparent material, removal of the shoe from the last will-permit inspection of the plastic attachment of the heel and will convince a prospective wearer of the permanence and excellence of the shoe construction.

Still another modification is shown in 'Fig. 7

in which a heel similar to that of Fig. 6 is used.

In this case a piece I50 of thermoplastic sheet material (which may or may not be perforated) is lasted in beneath the insole I52. The thermoplastic material or sheet I50 is so chosen as to become tacky upon contact with hot and fluid thermoplastic material injected into the recess I54 in the heel attaching operation. In this way, the plastic within the recess I54 becomes a unitary structure with the material of sheet I and a rigid shoe structure is formed. It is to be noted that the shank piece I58 will be firmly embedded in the plastic material. The perforations I50 are not essential but are preferably provided to increase the area to be made tacky by contact with the hot themoplastic material. In using ethyl cellulose molding compound for the extrusion operation at about 360 F. a suitable material (which is suggested merely as one example of.

what may be used for the sheet I50) is of the following composition:

It is clear that various combinations of materials can be used to suit specific conditions.

The principles of the present invention are also illustrated in the construction of a mans shoe, as shown in Fig. 8. The man's shoe 200 is shown as placed upon a last 202, the last having a conventional steel heel seat plate 204. An insole 200 is placed next to the last and its plate 204 and the central heel seat portion of the insole is cut out to form inwardly extending tongues 20!. as illustrated in Fig. 8. The counter and upper are fastened to the insole 206 with tacks as is customary in lasting operations. The sole 208 is a full length outsole extending to the rear of the shoe and the heel seat area thereof is cut out, as shown in dotted lines in one half of the heel structure. The two layers 2I0 and 2I2 of a laminated rand are placed upon the heel seat portion of the outsole 208. A lift 2 having.

seven tapered or outwardly flaring recesses 2I8 is placed upon the rand layer 2I2 and forms a fiat base for the remainder of the heel, which remainder is subsequently attached. In the present instance a top lift or rubber heel H8 is subsequently cemented to the lift 2. Such a rubber heel could be nailed to the lift 2 but it is preferable to cement it in order to fully eliminate the use of metallic heel attaching elements. It is also possible to attach the top lift M8 by making it integral with the lift 2. Insuch a case the recesses 2lii would extend into the top lift. It will be noted that the rear end of a shank piece 220 extends rearwardly as far as the central portion of the cut out section of the insole 208 and also that the overlasted margin 222 of the upper as well as the overlasted margin 22! of the counter extend between the innersole 208 and the outsole 200.

In joining the parts together all of the parts (with the exception of the rubber heel 2I0 in the resent specific instance) are clamped in the same position as are the parts shown in Fig. 4.

The clamp plate A (Fig. 4) will serve to block cut from the insole 208 and above the overlasted' margins 222 and 224. The plastic material also fills up all the perforations 2I6 and is stopped by the plate A which forms a part-of the clamping mechanism. The plastic material, upon hardening, firmly joins the parts together and assures a smooth interior heel seat.

After removal of the shoe from the clamping mechanism the rubber heel 2M is preferably attached by cementing the same, as referred to heretofore. Removal of the last 202 from the shoe 200 permits interior examination of the heel seat structure and no hidden defects need be tolerated.

It is to be noted that in all modifications of this invention the heels may be quickly attached to the shoes with the assurance that a firmstrong structure will be built without extruding too much or too little plastic regardless of the variation in sizes or shapes of the shoes. If desired, the mechanical or physical bond between the parts may be supplemented by an adhesive bond. However, the physical bond (without the use of an adhesive) has been found to be of such strength that a wood heel, if dealt a severe blow, would itself splinter and crack without the bond giving way. It will be noted that the physical or mechanical bond extends substantially the full width of the heel seat area enclosed within the seal formed between the heel and the bottom of the shoe. When heels are so attached all voids between the heel and the shoe are filled and there is assurance that the heel seat conforms to the last as the plastic material forms a smooth backing for the innersole. As irregularities on the shoe adjacent to the seal between the heel edge and the bottom of the shoe are intimately engaged by the plastic material, the mechanical bond between the heel and the shoe is characterized by possessing a large mechanical advantage. In prior shoe construction long shank pieces are essential but when shank pieces are embedded in plastic they may be shorter, without sacrificing shoe quality. The structure embodying the features of the present invention is such as to give reliability, satisfactory wear and comfort in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A method for permanently fastening adjacent shoe parts together, which comprises forming the lasted heel seat of a shoe with a central recess extending substantially to the outer edge of the heel seat, providing a heel with plasticv retaining means at its attaching face, clamping the said heel in position upon the lasted heel seat, injecting a fiowable resin to substantially fill the said central recess and engage the plastic retaining means, and causing theplastic material to harden to unite the parts.

2. That improvement in the art of manufacturing boots and shoes which comprises the steps of placing perforated sheet material forming a part of the bottom of the shoe in position upon the heel seat portion of a last, providing a heel portion with a retaining means at its top, maintaining the said heel portion in position on the shoe bottom to form a seal between the heel portion and the shoebottom, injecting plastic material from an exterior source to fill at least one perforation of said sheet material and substantially all voids enclosed by said seal and to engage said retaining means, causing the injected plastic material to harden and thereby unite the parts, separating the last and shoe, and inspecting the interior heel seat for a visual indication of proper heel attachment.

3. That improvement in the art of manufacturing boots and shoes which comprises the steps of placing perforated sheet material such as an innersole or tuck upon the heel seat portion of a last, folding the marginal portions of the upper and fastening them in position to overlap at least one perforation of said sheet material, providing a heel portion with a retaining means at its top, maintaining the said heel portion in position on the shoe to form a sealbetween the heel portion and the shoe, injecting plastic material from an exterior source to fill the said perforation and substantially all voids enclosed by said seal and to engage said retaining means, and causing the injected plastic material to harden, thereby firmly uniting the parts together.

4. A shoe with a heel portion, the attaching face of said heel portion engaging the shoe to form a seal, sheet material forming a part of the bottom of said shoe, said material being perforated in an area extending almost across the width of the heel seat in a plane above said attaching face, hard plastic material firmly anchored to said heel portion'and substantially filling all voids enclosed by said seal and extending upwardly through at least part of the said bottom and outwardly into the perforated marginal area of said sheet material.

5. That improvement in the art of manufacturing boots and shoes which comprises the steps of placing perforated sheet material forming a part I of the bottom of a shoe upon the heel seat por-- tion of a last, providing a heel portion with av retaining means at' its top, maintaining the said heel portion in position on the shoe bottomto form a seal between the heel portion and the bottom, injecting plastic material from an exterior source to fill at least one perforation of said sheet material and substantially all voids enclosed by said seal and to engage said retaining meansQand causing the injected plastic material to harden thereby uniting the parts together.

6. A shoe with an innersole, a heel and overlasted margins of the upper at the heel seat, the margins being spaced from the innersole, the attaching face of said heel engaging the shoe to form a curved contact area, hard plastic material firmly anchored to said heel and filling substantially all voids between the heel and shoe. said material extending from the heel and between the said margins and the said innersole.

7. A shoe with a heel and overlasted margins of the upper'and counter at the heel seat, the attaching face of said heel engaging the shoe to form a seal, hard plastic material anchored within a recess of said heel and filling the voids between the heel and shoe, said material extending from the heel past the edges of said margins and outwardly above said margins forming a broad attaching means for said heel.

8. A shoe with. an innersole, a heel and overlasted margins of the upper at the heel seat. spacer means forming spaces between said innersole and said margins, the attaching face of said heel engaging the shoe to form a curved sealing area, hard plastic material firmly anchored to said heel and filling substantially all of said spaces and substantially all of the voids between the heel and shoe to form a broad attaching means for said heel.

9. A method of attaching a heel to a shoe without the use of metallic fastenings said method comprising providing a shoe having spacermeans forming a space extending above the overlasted margins of the upper, providing a heel with plastic retaining means at its top, maintaining the heel in position on the shoe to form a seal between the heel and the shoe, injecting plastic material from an exterior source to fill the said space and substantially all voids enclosed by said seal and to engage said plastic retaining means. a "and causing the injected plastic material to harden, thereby firmly uniting the parts together.

10. A method of attaching a heel to a shoe, said method comprising providing a heel with plastic retaining means at its top, maintaining the heel in position on the shoe with pressure sufficient to form a seal between the heel and the shoe, injecting plastic material from an exterior source with pressure sufficient to fill the voids enclosed by said seal and to force plastic material above the overlasted margins ofthe upper and also to force plastic material to engage said retaining means. and causing the injected plastic material to harden, thereby firmly uniting the parts together.

11. A method of attaching a heel to a'shoe, said method comprising providing a heel with an undercut recess in its attaching face, maintaining the heel in position on the shoe with sufilci'ent pressure to form a seal between the heel and the shoe, injecting plastic material into said recess 'strip, hard plastic material firmly anchored to said heel and closely engaging the shoe to form a backing for the inner sole, means for holding said overlasted portions to said innersole, thesaid hard plastic material gripping the edges of said portions and extending between the said portions and the innersole.

13. A method of attaching a heel to a shoe having a short sole and also supplementary heel attaching means fastened thereto, said method comprising providing a heel with an undercut recess in its top, maintaining the heel in position on the overlasted portions of the shoe upper to form a seal therewith, injecting plastic material irom a. source exterior to the shoe and heel into said recess to form a backing for the innersole and to attach itself to the said supplementary means adjacent to said seal, terminating the injection byaction of the plastic material pressure as developed within the recess and as determined by the said seal, and causing the injected' plastic material to harden thereby firmly uniting the parts together.

14. A shoe with a sole terminating in the vicinity of the heel breast and a heel engaging the overlasted portions of the upper as a seal, the said l 1 Heel having a recess in its top and being attached to the shoe by hardened plastic material extending from within said recess and closely engaging ity of the heel breast, a heel forming a seal with the overlasted portions of the upper, and hardened plastic material extending from within an undercut recess 0! said heel and across substantially the full width of the heel seat area enclosed within said seal, the said plastic material engaging irregularities on the shoe exterior to said undercut recess.

17. A method for attaching a heel to a shoe including the placing of a heel in position upon a shoe, said shoe having a U-shaped spacer member and a perforated sheet member interposed between the insole and overlasted portions of the upper and the perforations extending over the overlasted portions, extruding fluid plastic material into a recess in the top of the heel to fill the said recess and said perforations.

18. A method for attaching a heel to a shoe including the placing or a heel in position upon a 12 shoe, said shoe having a resinous sheet fastened between the inner-sole and the overlasted Dortions of the upper, extruding thermoplastic material into a recess in the top of the heel to till the said recess and closely contact the resin sheet.

19. A shoe having a U-shaped spacing member and a perforated sheet lasted in between the ins nersole and the overlasted portions of the shoe upper, the perforated sheet being adjacent the innersole and having a peri'oration extending over one of said overlasted portions, said shoe having a heel attached by plastic material filling a recess in the top of the heel and said perforation of the perforated sheet.

20. A shoe having a resinous sheet lasted in between the innersole and the overiasted portions of the shoe upper, a heel attached to said shoe by plastic material filling a recess in the top 0! the heel and formed with the resinous sheet into a unitary structure.

21. A shoe with a heel, the edges oi said heel engaging the bottom of the shoe i'orming a seal, a

recess in the heel seat portion of said shoe bottom, said recess projecting outwardly close to said heel edges and adjacent to the shoe interior, the top of said heel having anchoring meam, and hardened plastic material filling said recess and engaging said anchoring means, said material forming a broad and firm foot support and a rigid heel attaching means.

JAMES F. LEAHY. 

